1998 Mercedes-Benz CL420

This particular C140 is a late-model CL420, produced during the latter part of the production run, therefore benefitting from all of the refinements and upgrades made to the model throughout its lifetime, most notably coil-pack ignition, a five-speed gearbox, parking sensors and a revised engine wiring harness.

Supplied new by Falcon of Loughborough and first registered on 29 October 1998, this is a wonderful high-specification example of an already luxurious S-Class coupé, benefitting from the following optional extras:

- Parktronic

- Electrically adjustable, heated, memory front seats (driver’s side multi-contour/orthopaedic)

- Auto-dimming rear view mirror

- Wood/leather steering wheel

- Wooden gear selector

- Front and rear arm rests

- Electric tilt/slide glass sunroof

- Electrically adjustable steering column

- Heated offside side mirror

- Electric rear window roller blind

- Headlamp wash/wipe

- Five-hole alloy wheels

- Soft-close (closing aid) for both doors and boot lid

Throughout its lifetime, the car has enjoyed long-term ownership on a number of occasions, most notably from new until 2002, and then from 2002 until 2017, with the latter owner having the car taken care of exclusively by Klasse of Fulham.

It has since passed through the hands of numerous collectors, with the last owner being known to the vendors, and a major service having been carried out during 2019, including coolant and brake fluid changes. This, along with the exemplary maintenance and care that the car has received throughout its lifetime, means this S-Class coupé is ready for its next owner to simply jump in and enjoy as M-B intended.

Presented in outstanding condition throughout, the bodywork of this luxurious coupé is in fantastic shape, and has clearly benefitted from a cherished lifestyle, though no doubt limited mileage and collector ownership in more recent times has also helped preserve the car, with it being garaged throughout its lifetime to the best of the vendor’s knowledge.

Looking along the flanks of the car, there are no signs of any dents, impact damage or mis-aligned panels, nor is there any signs of scuffs, scrapes or heavy wear to the paintwork, with the only particularly notable signs of life being confined to the offside edge of the front bumper above the fog light, and a couple of marks on the leading edge of the bonnet, which are only really visible up close.

The various badges, trims and details are all present and correct, whilst all of the light lenses are free from damage or heavy clouding.

All four wheels are in excellent condition, with no kerb rash or notable marks to speak of.

All-in-all, this C140 is still in outstanding shape, and will still turn plenty of knowing enthusiast’s heads wherever it goes.

Oh, and it’s a pillar-less coupé, which - if you ask any enthusiast - is the best kind of coupé, and gives this 90’s flagship a fantastic side profile, especially with all four windows down, making it an ideal summer cruiser.

The good news continues inside the cabin, with the grey leather interior having worn its years with apparent ease, and showing no signs of mis-treatment, clumsy ownership or heavy wear, which is also testament to Mercedes’ legendary build quality of the era.

The seats, for example, show no signs of life beyond the usual minor creasing you’d expect to see from 22-year-old leather, and are devoid of any rips, tears or damage. Similarly, the carpets, door cards and headliner are in equally fantastic shape, having clearly been cosseted over the years.

Up ahead, the wood inlays to the dashboard, centre console, steering wheel and shifter are all in exemplary condition, with no lacquer peel, cracking or deep scratches to speak of. The dashboard is free of any sun damage, cracking or warping, and all systems are reported to be in full working order, including the sunroof, though we doubt the built-in carphone would be of much use these days.

In the rear, the luggage area is of an equally high standard, with a near-complete tool kit and warning triangle present.

Open up the bonnet, and the M119 V8 engine has been cleaned up, detailed and well-kept, which is always a good sign in our minds. As far as we can see, there are no tell-tale signs of any leak, oil weeps or obvious signs of issues, and everything looks to be right and in its correct place.

Having undergone a major service less than 2,000 miles ago, the engine, transmission, suspension system and other drivetrain components are reported to be in rude health, and there were no comments from our photographer that would suggest anything otherwise.

Underneath, there are the usual signs of wear-and-tear to exposed components that you’d expect from a car of this era, though no doubt any wear has been kept to a minimum, thanks to its meticulous ownership and garaged lifestyle.

The most recent MoT exam - dated 21 February 2022 - shows a clean pass with no advisory items.

Included with this pillar less S-Class coupé is a rich and extensive history, covering the car from new to the present day. This has all been photographed - as always with our auctions - and is available to view below in its entirety.

Highlights of this history folder include the stamped service record (with a total of 19 stamps in all) the V5 showing 6 former keepers, a full specification breakdown, numerous old MoT certificates, a full M-B book pack, and a plethora of invoices with a number of Mercedes-Benz main dealer invoices of note.

Arguably one for the ‘greatest hits’ album of Mercedes-Benz cars, the C140 coupé is a true design and engineering masterpiece, which is widely revered by enthusiasts, drivers and collectors alike.

This late-model 1998 example boasts a fantastic specification, rich history and is presented in outstanding condition throughout. With a history as both a daily driver and as a collectors item, this CL420 would be ideal to enjoy on the weekends, as a modern classic driver or as a wonderful addition to any private line-up, and we estimate it to fetch £10,000 - £15,000 when the hammer falls.

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays between 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.